Automatic quilting machine

ABSTRACT

An automatic quilting machine for stitching together according to any programmed pattern a plain upper material, a lower material, elastic in the warp sense and optionally an intermediate batting, which provides that a certain drawing of the stitching paths consisting of a predetermined elementary pattern repeated a given number of times, can be alternated with another or more different drawings, each of which is formed also by a plurality of repetitions of a basic pattern. Two sets of knobs control the circuits of the machine and select the basic patterns and preset an associate counter which cooperates with an impulse generator for determining the number of said basic patterns to be repeated before changing over the subsequent drawing by means of a converter.

Landoni 1111 3,757,710 1 1 Sept. 11, 1973 AUTOMATIC QUILTING MACHINEGlannino Landoni, 21012 Cassano Magnago Via Verdi 133, Milan, Italy 22Filed: Jan.27, 1910 211 Appl. No.: 6,213

[76] Inventor:

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data 7/1967 Portnoff et al 112/79 X3/1970 Brown et al 112/79 R Primary Examiner-Geo. V. LarkrinAttorney-Browdy and Neimark s7 ABSTRACT An automatic quilting machinefor stitching together according to any programmed pattern a plain upperJan. 30, 1969 Italy 12181 A/69 material a lower material elastic in thewarp sense and optionally an intennediate batting, which provides that acertain drawing of the stitching paths consisting of a [58] Fie'ld 174I9 79 102 03 predetermined elementary pattern repeated a given 12 H l2.3l8/56'8 3 i number of times, can be alternated with another or 1 moredifferent drawings, each of which is formed also by a plurality ofrepetitions of a basic pattern. Two sets [56] I Refugees cued of knobscontrol the circuits of the machine and select UNITED STATES PATENTS 1the basic patterns and preset, an associate counter 3,473,496 10/1969Hesz 112/118 which cooperates with an impulse generator for deter3.497.780, 1970 Leenhouls 1 2112 X mining the number of said basicpatterns to be repeated g f g I i: before changing over the subsequentdrawing by means oevl z y 3,272,163 9/1966 Erwin et a1 112/79 R of aconverter 6 8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures Al c A l 1 V @D l I M 2 v 3-" \J1! ill 3 4 0P1 W2 8 a x Fm E c1 u2 51 W1 M1 52 nnb a- W1 H --0 Y 5 4 M M--4 L J y I FC2- e p 1 AUTOMATIC QUILTING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION The present invention relates to an automatic quilting machineand particularly to an improvement in an automatic quilting machine ofthe type described and claimed in the co-pending applications Ser. no.566,826 filed on July 21, 1966 now U. S. Pat. No. 3,492,957 and Ser. No.795,324 filed on Jan. 30, 1969 now U. S. Pat, No. 3,500,778, both by thesame Applicant.

The automatic quilting machine which is the subjectmatter of theabove-mentioned patent application is used to manufacture associatedquilted materials which essentially consist of a plain materialassociated to another material which is elastic in the warp direction,by a plurality of stitchings according to any programmed pattern. Saidstitchings are effected while keeping the elastic material under tensionin the warp direction, so that when the tension is released, uponcompletion of the stitchings, the resulting material shows differentstitching patterns and is highly elastic. Between the plain material andthe elastic material, a layer of batting may be inserted and quiltedtogether with said materials.

Said machine, which has been described and illustrated in detail in theabove mentioned patent applications, essentially consists of a carriageon which a plurality of fabric supplying rolls are mounted. The carriagemoves transversely and is controlled by the profile of aninterchangeable cam, while the rolls are caused to rotate in a planewhich is perpendicular to the direction of the carriage movement. As aresult of said two movements, the fabric or fabrics wound on the rollsare moved with respect to a plurality of needles so as to obtaindifferent stitching paths in accordance with the programmed pattern.

In the machine described in the above mentioned patent application Ser.No. 566,826, the rotation of the fabric feeding rolls perpendicularly tothe carriage movement could be rendered independent from the latter withthe aidof a programming device acting on an electromagnetic clutch andan electromagnetic brake. In this way, the stitchings follow either onlya transverse path, if no movement is imparted to the fabric supplyingrolls, or a diagonal path, as a result of a transverse movement of thecarriage combined with the movement of the rolls. Longitudinalstitchings of the fabrics are performed only over reducedlengths,-depending on the profile of the cam which controls thetransverse movement.

As a consequence of the improvement described in the patent applicationSer. No. 795,324 the movable parts of said machine were further madedependent, in order to make it possible to quilt the fabrics not only inreduced length, but even in the longitudinal sense over any desiredlengths. This is achieved by providing a second programming disk orother equivalent device capable of programming the desired sequence ofcut-in and cut-off of a second electromagnetic clutch and a secondelectromagnetic brake.

In this manner, any desired stitching paths can be obtained, without anylimitation. Said paths however are necessarily repeated at most at theend of each complete revolution of the programming disks, thus forming apattern which is repeated ad infinitum. The quilting paths can bemodified to obtain different patterns, but this has to be done bystopping the machine and switching over to another program.

On the other hand, in the manufacture of some articles such as quilts,mattresses, etc. it is necessary to alternate two or more differentpatterns, in such a way that each of them be reproduced over apreestablished and programmed length.

The operation of alternating two or more paterns, which should beperfonned manually, involves significant drawbacks. Indeed, in additionto resulting in suspending periodically the working of the machine, saidoperation is practically made impossible by the working speed of themachine, which in some cases requires a manual intervention to cause themachine to halt with a maximum accuracy at pre-established points and tochange the program in a few fractions of a second. Of course, thiscannot be done in actual practice, particularly so because, with a viewto a regular succession in the patterns, the machine would have to stopfor negligible periods of time with respect to the few seconds ofworking, which is absolutely impossible in view of the inherent inertiaof the movable parts of the machine and the accuracy required for eachsuspension.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the improvement according to thepresent invention is to permit a certain pattern of the stitching paths,repeated as many times as desired, to be al- 'ternated with one or moretypes of different patterns BRIEF DESCRIFI ION OF THE DRAWINGS Anembodiment of said invention will now be described by way ofnon-limiting example, wherein, for the sake of simplification, the casewill be considered in which only two different, periodically alternatingpatterns are applied, with reference to the accompanying drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 represents an example of two adjacent stitching paths constitutedby two alternating types of patterns, according to the improvement ofthe present invention.

FIG. 2 represents another example of two adjacent stitching paths inwhich two different types of patterns are alternated periodically; and

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view, in separated parts, of the mainelements composing the improved machine according to the presentinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIGS. 1 and 2 show the resultingeffect, for two adjacent stitching paths, obtainable by repeating acertain number of identical patterns, which may be called the basicpattern.

In the aforesaid figures, the basic patterns recurring in theexemplified stitching paths have been shown in heavy type. The pointsofpassage from a first type of pattern to a second one and th subsequentreturn to the first stitching path have been indicated by T and Z inFIG. 1 and T and Z in FIG. 2, respectively.

in the example of H6. 1, one of the two stitching paths consists of alongitudinal rectilinear path which proceeds over a certain length andis obtained, as is known, by disengaging the driving devices of thetransverse movement from the driving shaft.

With reference to FIG. 3, it can be noticed that the improved machineaccording to this invention does not substantially differ from themachine described and claimed in the above mentioned application Ser.No. 795,324, except for the electric control equipment grouped in panelsA and A1. Said equipment, which is shown only externally in the figure,includes, in addition tthe control units normally used in quiltingmachines and already described in the two above mentioned co-pendingapplications a computer A and a converter Al. Two sets of knobs areprovided for selecting the types of stitching paths which are requiredto be alternated, and for programming the length of each of them. KnobsN and M serve to select two types of 1-4 or IIV basic patterns, which,repeated for a given number of times, constitute the stitching paths tobe alternated. Knobs n and m serve to set the length of each differentstitching path, i.e., the number of times that each different basicpattern has to be repeated.

A slide H for lateral reciprocation of the carriage B is driven by cam Eand cam follower rollers G1 and G2.

The shaft M1 is stopped by an electric brake Y1, every time the clutchX1 is not engaged.

Another programming disc DPl with its photoelectric cell FCl iscontrolling the clutch X through the computer A and the converter Al.

An electric motor N1 is driving the main shaft L through a belt andpulley K. The worm D1 unitary with the shaft L meshes with theworm-wheel D2 and drives the shaft Ml of cam E by means of an electricclutch X1.

On the opposite end of the shaft M, the bevel gears T drive a gear boxPr with a program disk DP2 and a photoelectric cell FC2. The same shaftL is driving the bevel gears U1 and worm gears U2 which are movingthrough the shaft S, the shaft L1 which drives the roller C1, when theelectric clutch X is energized. Heretofore, according to the co-pendingapplications mentioned hereinabove, said basic pattern had to berepeated for an indefinite number of times, unless the programming diskswere substituted. Now, on the contrary, a system has been designed forthe purpose of counting the number of basic patterns repeated and toswitch over to another working program, once a given pre-fixed number isreached, so as to obtain another pre-established pattern of thestitching path, etc.

This has been achieved by providing a disk V connected to the gear boxPr of the quilting machine through such gear ratios that each of itsrevolutions corresponds to the execution of one or more basic quiltingpatterns. For the purpose of checking the number of basic patternsexecuted, a specific impulse generator C supplies at each revolution ofthe aforesaid disk, or at each whole part of said revolutioncorresponding to a basic pattern, an impulse which is sent into thecomputer A.

When the number of basic patterns selected e.g., by knob n as for thetypes of basic patterns chosen by knob N is reached, a converter A1automatically switches in the program of the basic pattern selected bythe knob M; the basic patterns of this type are now repeated for acertain number of times, which is pre-fixed by knob m until there occursanother switching and the path consisting of the basic patterns of thetype corresponding to the position of knob N is resumed, whereafter thecycle is repeated periodically and automatically.

The impulse generator C may consist of a limit switch or any other typeof apparatus capable of producing an electric signal upon passage of acertain mark; for example, a proximity switch or a photoelectric cell.

As stated hereinabove, the aforesaid description and the correspondingdrawings refer to one embodiment of the present invention, wherein, forthe sake of simplification, the case of only two different, periodicallyalternating quilting patterns has been considered. Of course, three ormore different quilting patterns alternated according to a givensequence can be obtained as well. For this purpose, it will besufiicient to correspondingly increase the functions of the computer andits converter, as an extension of the principles defined hereinabove.

Moreover, further modifications, improvements and additions mayobviously be introduced into the various constructive elements of themachine, without departing from the scope of the present invention asstated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An automatic multineedle quilting machine for obtaining any desiredbut repeated pattern of stitching paths, comprising a carriage adaptedto move transversely, a first electric clutch controlling the transversemovement of the carriage, a first programming disk for operating saidfirst electric clutch, a second electric clutch controlling the forwardmovement of the material to be quilted, and a second programming diskfor operating said second electric clutch,

said quilting machine further comprising an impulse generator and anassociated third disk means to drive said third disk and said associatedimpulse generator; a computer means receiving the control signals ofsaid first and second programming disks and adapted to count theimpulses of said impulse generator; and a plurality of first and secondselecting means and a converter means preset by said plurality of firstselecting means for programming a succession of elementary patterns andsaid plurality of second selecting means for programming the number ofeach of said elementary patterns to be repeated, said converter meansbeing operated by said computer means to commute the quilting path fromone of said patterns to the subsequent one in .said succession.

2. The automatic quilting machine of claim 1, wherein said computermeans operates said converter means when the count of said impulses insaid computer means is equal to said number of repeated elementarypatterns preset by that second selecting means corresponding to saidelementary pattern.

3. The automatic quilting machine of claim 2, wherein said impulsegenerator sends to said computer means an impulse upon each completerevolution of said third disk.

4. The automatic quilting machine of claim 3, wherein said third diskmakes one complete revolution during the quilting operation according toany one of said elementary patterns.

5. The automatic quilting machine of claim 2, wherein said impulsegenerator sends to said computer has contacts inserted in the circuitsof said computer means which receive the signals of said programmingdisks for operating said electric clutches.

8. The automatic quilting machine of claim 1, wherein one of saidelementary patterns is a longitudinal rectilinear stitchingcorresponding to said first electric clutch disengaged and said secondelectric clutch engaged.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION 3,757,710 IDated September 11, 1973 I Patent No.

v I Giannino LANDONI Inventor(s) I It is certified that error appears inthe above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are herebycorrected as shown below:

Colnmn 2, line 66, delete "th" and insert therefore the Column 3, line13, delete "tthe" and insert therefore to theline 37, after wordfidisk"insert a comma I-.

Signed'end sealed this 29th day of January 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. RENE D. TEGTMEYER Attesting Officer ActingCommissioner of Patents

1. An automatic multineedle quilting machine for obtaining any desiredbut repeated pattern of stitching paths, comprising a carriage adaptedto move transversely, a first electric clutch controlling the transversemovement of the carriage, a first programming disk for operating saidfirst electric clutch, a second electric clutch controlling the forwardmovement of the material to be quilted, and a second programming diskfor operating said second electric clutch, said quilting machine furthercomprising an impulse generator and an associated third disk means todrive said third disk and said associated impulse generator; a computermeans receiving the control signals of said first and second programmingdisks and adapted to count the impulses of said impulse generator; and aplurality of first and second selecting means and a converter meanspreset by said plurality of first selecting means for programming asuccession of elementary patterns and said plurality of second selectingmeans for programming the number of each of said elementary patterns tobe repeated, said converter means being operated by said computer meansto commute the quilting path from one of said patterns to the subsequentone in said succession.
 2. The automatic quilting machine of claim 1,wherein said computer means operates said converter means when the countof said impulses in said computer means is equal to said number ofrepeated elementary patterns preset by that second selecting meanscorresponding to said elementary pattern.
 3. The automatic quiltingmachine of claim 2, wherein said impulse generator sends to saidcomputer means an impulse upon each complete revolution of said thirddisk.
 4. The automatic quilting machine of claim 3, wherein said thirddisk makes one complete revolution during the quilting operationaccording to any one of said elementary patterns.
 5. The automaticquilting machine of claim 2, wherein said impulse generator sends tosaid computer means an impulse upon each given angle of rotation of saidthird disk, which is a submultiple of one complete revolution.
 6. Theautomatic quilting machine of claim 5, wherein said third disk rotatesby an angle submultiple of one complete revolution during the quiltingoperation according to anyone of said elementary patterns.
 7. Theautomatic quilting machine of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality offirst selecting means has contacts inserted in the circuits of saidcomputer means which receive the signals of said programming disks foroperating said electric clutches.
 8. The automatic quilting machine ofclaim 1, wherein one of said elementary patterns is a longitudinalrectilinear stitching corresponding to said first electric clutchdisengaged and said second electric clutch engaged.